Relevant Policies, Strategies and Previous Studies

This section provides a summary of the previous studies and relevant policy and strategy documents that have been reviewed to inform the Strategic Assessment. These documents are identified and grouped to reflect relevant National, Regional or Local scale policies and strategies. Those that provide key information to inform the ongoing development and assessment of the A75 Springholm and Crocketford Improvements are examined further in the Strategic Review section of this report, where details of data analysis, appraisal stages and relevant problems and opportunities are presented.

National Policy and Strategy Documents

Strategic Transport Projects Review (2008)

The first Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) set out 29 transport investment priorities for the Scottish Government to 2032.

Relevant to the A75 Trunk Road STPR recommended a targeted programme of measures to improve links to the Loch Ryan port facilities. The recommendation included provision of safer overtaking opportunities such as 2+1 sections, climbing lanes and overtaking lay-bys.

National Transport Strategy 2 (2020)

The second National Transport Strategy (NTS2) sets the vision for the country’s transport system over the next 20 years to achieve a more sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system which helps to deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

NTS2 highlights the need to make it as easy as possible for Scottish firms to do business abroad and for foreign firms to do business here in its goal to develop inclusive economic growth. It highlights the challenge with lack of direct freight and logistics routes to the continent, with Scotland currently being dependent on routes via England for most imports and exports. The strategy also stresses the need to have a transport system that is resilient and speedily recovers from disruption, thus minimising impacts of delayed journeys on our networks and users.

Update to the Climate Change Plan 2018-2032: Securing a Green Recovery on a Path to Net Zero (2020)

The Climate Change Plan update (CCPu) sets out the pathway to be taken by Scottish Government to the targets set by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019. The CCPu sets out both the Scottish Government’s approach to delivering a green recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and a pathway to deliver the climate change targets, including achieving net zero emissions by 2045, with a focus on the period up to 2032.

The CCPu presents a coordinated approach to achieving the targets, providing policies and proposals for each sector that includes transport. On transport, the CCPu aligns with the vision of NTS2 in having a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system that contributes to a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors. It highlights that a key focus will be on technological advances to green vehicles, but also that managing transport demand and embedding behaviour change will be of vital importance.

Union Connectivity Review (2021)

The Union Connectivity Review (UCR) examined how best to improve road, rail, air, and sea links across the UK. Within the UCR there is a recommendation that the UK Government offer funding to the Scottish Government in order to support the upgrade of the A75 Trunk Road which would improve journeys between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

The UCR noted opportunities for improvement around average speeds, safety and a lack of alternative routes. It also noted how stakeholders raised issues on the A75 and A77 repeatedly. The funding for the A75 Springholm and Crocketford Improvements is via the Union Connectivity Funding as a result of the direct recommendations made from this review, with it being suggested that the majority of strategic benefits would fall outside of Scotland.

Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021 to 2026 (2021)

The vision of the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP) is that “our infrastructure supports Scotland’s resilience and enables inclusive, net zero, and sustainable growth.” It sets the context of future investment in transport to deliver an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to the key longer-term trends of climate change, technological developments and demographic change.

The IIP identifies delivery under three themes: enabling the transition to net zero emissions and environmental sustainability; driving inclusive economic growth; and building resilient and sustainable places.

Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 (2021)

Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2030 sets out ambitious and compelling long-term goals for road safety where no-one dies or is seriously injured by 2050. To help achieve this vision, the framework sets out five strategic outcomes which describe the road safety environment it aims to deliver. The outcomes align with the five pillars of the Safe System: safe road use, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads and roadsides and post-crash response.

Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (2022)

In 2019, Transport Scotland commenced the second Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) to help inform transport investment in Scotland for the next 20 years. The final reporting of STPR2 lists 45 Recommendations for transport improvements across all regions of Scotland and across all modes.

Recommendation 40 “Access to Stranraer and the ports at Cairnryan” proposes safety, resilience and reliability improvements are made on the A75 and A77 strategic road corridors, connecting Stranraer and Cairnryan to the rest of Scotland and the UK. This would include, but is not limited to improving junctions, enhancing overtaking opportunities with WS2+1 or climbing lanes at appropriate locations where slow-moving traffic leads to risky overtaking manoeuvres, and widening or realigning carriageways to alleviate ‘pinch points’ such as narrow structures or at stretches of older standard single carriageway. Specific reference to the villages were made with examples of locations of improvement schemes including A75 Realignment around Springholm and Crocketford.

A Route Map to Achieve a 20 per cent Reduction in Car Kilometres by 2030 (2022)

The route map was created to support the target of a 20% reduction in car kilometres committed to in the CCPu as a means to help achieve the overall target of achieving net zero emissions by 2045. The route map considers the need for ongoing collaboration and partnerships between national, regional and local government as well as groups and organisations representing societies across Scotland to deliver a national shift in travel behaviour. It notes that a uniform 20% kilometre reduction will not be stipulated in all geographical areas.

The route map presents a framework of four sustainable travel behaviours; reducing the need to travel, living well locally, switching modes and combining trips or sharing journeys. These are applicable in both rural and urban settings as well as for those with specific mobility needs. The route map sets out the actions to be taken up to 2030 to support each of these four behaviours, focusing in the near-term predominantly on actions including investment and legislative changes to encourage alternative behaviours.

Note: In April 2025, Scottish Government announced that the targets set out by the Route Map would not be achievable, however the commitment to reduce car kilometres was maintained. A renewed policy statement was issued by Transport Scotland in June 2025 which sets out the current approach to enabling reduction and identifies opportunities to go further and apply lessons learned, with further work commissioned to inform future revision of car use reduction targets.

Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation (2022)

Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation sets out the priorities for Scotland’s economy, as well as the Programmes of Action needed to maximise opportunities over the next decade (to 2032). The IIP and NTS2 directly support this strategy in the pursuit of creating and sustaining a resilient national infrastructure that can support a high productivity economy.

Policy 4 'Productive Businesses and Regions' within the National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET) aims to make Scotland’s businesses, industries, regions, communities and public services more productive and innovative. Part of the Productive Businesses and Regions Programme of Action within the NSET is to deliver the STPR2 to help make Scotland more accessible for residents, visitors and businesses; create better connectivity with sustainable, smart and cleaner transport options; and highlight the vital contribution that transport investment can play in enabling and sustaining Scotland’s economic growth.

National Planning Framework 4 (2023)

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) provides a long-term plan for Scotland setting out where development and infrastructure is needed, guiding spatial development to 2045, setting out national planning policy and the designation of nationally significant developments.

NPF4 highlights the need to support the regeneration of Stranraer through the 'Stranraer Gateway', which is identified as a National Development. High quality place-based regeneration will help address socio-economic inequalities in Stranraer and support the wider population of south west Scotland by acting as a hub and providing a platform for future investment. This will be supported by any strategic transport interventions, including road and rail, as identified in STPR2.

Regional Policy and Strategy Documents

South West Scotland Transport Study – Initial Appraisal: Case for Change (2020)

The first stage of the STPR2 was to develop the case for change in accordance with STAG including that for the South West of Scotland. The South West Scotland region, which included Dumfries and Galloway, was undertaken in advance of STPR2, with The South West Scotland Transport Study – Initial Appraisal: Case for Change (SWSTS) comprising this first stage of the STAG process.

The SWSTS considered multi-modal improvements on key strategic corridors in the South West, with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. This included the A75 Trunk Road between Stranraer and Gretna. The SWSTS identified 56 options, including A75 Bypasses (Springholm and Crocketford). Options were then packaged, with 23 option packages across the assessment corridor recommended for taking forward for further assessment as part of STPR2. Option Package 15 A75 Capacity Enhancements included the option for A75 bypasses along with the development of capacity enhancement measures on the A75, such as partial dualling, town/village bypasses and improved overtaking opportunities.

Borderlands Growth Deal (2021)

The Borderlands Partnership (growth deal signed 2021) is a £452m investment programme bringing together the five cross-border (Scotland and England) local authorities of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council.

Projects from the partnership are delivered under four themes - Enabling Infrastructure; Improving Places; Supporting Business, Innovation and Skills; and Encouraging Green Growth.

South Of Scotland Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (2021)

The indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (iRSS) articulates several shared outcomes and strategic development projects the region wishes to see achieved and delivered by 2050 which will: respond to the climate change emergency, secure sustainability in our energy supplies and land use practices; deliver an inclusive economy; bring meaningful improvements to the health and wellbeing of all of our citizens; facilitate the responsible management of our high quality landscape and heritage resources; and, deliver optimum connectivity to, from and throughout the region.

The iRSS highlights a number of strategic development projects, which include development project 22 "Transport Corridor Improvements - A75(T) & A77(T)”. This project aims to strengthen the A75 transport corridor which links the Cairnryan Ferry hub to the A74(M)/West coast main rail line, and the A77 corridor north to Ayr and the central belt. The iRSS notes it is important for the future of the south west of Scotland that the appropriate improvement of the A75 (such as dualling) and investment in transport connectivity on this transport corridor (along with the A77 towards Ayr) is planned to support the ports of Cairnryan whilst improving connections across the area.

A75 Gretna - Stranraer A77 Ayr - Stranraer Strategic and Economic Impacts Report (2023)

This report presents a strategic and economic assessment of various improvement packages relating to the A75 and A77 trunk roads in southwest Scotland. The options considered include settlement bypasses and carriageway improvements, full dualling of both the routes, as well as other road improvements and rail upgrades.

Whilst no costs were developed for any of the packages, present value benefits were reported, with journey time reduction, improved safety and wider economic impacts anticipated for all packages. Two of the packages assessed included bypasses along the A75 and A77 without full dualling of either trunk road, with results showing that improvements and bypasses along the A75 should be prioritised over the equivalent measures along the A77.

SWestrans Regional Transport Strategy 2023-42 (2023)

The key purpose of the SWestrans Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) is to identify the transport challenges in Dumfries and Galloway and set out a long-term approach to address them, up to 2042.

The document highlights the strategic importance of the A75 for travel associated with Cairnryan and the resulting constraints on journey times that arise with the significant car and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) demand. It notes that as the A75 passes through the villages of Springholm and Crocketford, it negatively impacts these communities and extends journey times further. A priority of the RTS is therefore to investigate the feasibility of bypasses for Springholm and Crocketford on the A75, as well as other communities on the trunk road network in the Region.

Local Policy and Strategy Documents

A75 Gretna to Stranraer Route Action Plan Study/Reports (1997- 2000)

In August 1997 the then Scottish Office commissioned a Route Action Plan Study for the entire length of the A75 to bring together options for improvement. This required the preparation of a number of Supplementary Reports to recommend a number of options for improving the performance of each section of the route, as well as a Firm Strategy Report to summarise and draw together all previous elements of the Route Action Plan Study to create a firm strategy for improvements along the whole route. The Firm Strategy Report was also required to identify a programme of schemes and appropriate improvements within the overall strategy framework suitable for phased implementation in the short, medium and long term to improve safety, increase performance and decrease travelling times.

One of the long-term recommendations in the Firm Strategy Report was for a Springholm Bypass (which the strategy noted as being of Wide Single 2+1 standard to provide guaranteed eastbound overtaking opportunities). A bypass of Crocketford was appraised as a long-term option but not ultimately recommended to be progressed as part of the Firm Strategy for the Route Action Plan Study at that time.

Dumfries and Galloway Local Development Plan 2 (2019)

The Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) sets out the spatial strategy to guide future land use and development within Dumfries and Galloway, with the LDP2 Vision covering the next 20 years. Within the LDP2, it considers strategies for the economy, energy, retail, housing, transport, active travel and green networks and waste management. It provides the planning framework and guides the future use and development of land in towns, villages and the rural area.

Policy T1 of the LDP2 considers that the Council will support any improvement of existing transport infrastructure and, where appropriate, the provision of new transport infrastructure and/or services provided they accord with the Regional and Local Transport Strategies. The Council must also be satisfied that any proposals, following appropriate assessment where required, would have no adverse effects either alone or in combination on the integrity of any Natura site. It also notes that the national and strategic role of routes including trunk roads, motorways and the rail network should not be compromised by development which individually or incrementally materially reduces the level of service of a route.

In the LDP2, Springholm is considered a local centre within the Stewartry Housing Market area, with a planning objective to consolidate and enhance Springholm’s role as a Local Centre within the settlement hierarchy.

Dumfries and Galloway Active Travel Strategy 2022 – 2032 (2022)

This Active Travel Strategy and delivery plan was adopted to provide a combined approach to active travel infrastructure and culture within Dumfries and Galloway, allowing the region to better respond to sustainability challenges as part of the declaration of a Climate Emergency, carbon reduction targets and wider priorities. The strategy is designed to promote and drive change to make essential daily destinations accessible by active and sustainable modes and engage people with healthy lifestyles.

Key objectives include making places (such as the villages of Springholm and Crocketford) and streets safer for walking, cycling and other forms of active travel and improving connections between urban and rural areas, thus improving inter-settlement connectivity. A key theme of the document is safety, noting schemes and policies for safer active routes need to provide both road safety and personal safety when walking, wheeling, and cycling, recognising that perception can be as significant a barrier as actual risks.